Adam Fergusson is a journalist and former MEP but is now best known as the author of the remarkable bestseller “When Money Dies”, about the crisis of hyper-inflation in Germany in the 1920s, where Germany’s currency became effectively worthless. Adam wrote the book in the early 1970s when the... Read more
Adam Fergusson is a journalist and former MEP but is now best known as the author of the remarkable bestseller “When Money Dies”, about the crisis of hyper-inflation in Germany in the 1920s, where Germany’s currency became effectively worthless.
Adam wrote the book in the early 1970s when the global economy was buckling in the wake of the first oil shock – which killed growth and pushed prices up. “When I started researching it in 1973, inflation in the UK was about 10 per cent, and when the book came out in 1975 it was nearly 25 per cent,” Adam says. “Somebody said, ‘we must go back and look at what happened in the 1920s when prices got out of control’.” The book tells the story of Germany’s economic collapse after the first world war, which culminated in the mind-boggling inflation of late 1923 – a dreadful time when the number of marks to the pound was at one point equivalent to the number of metres from the earth to the sun.
In the last few years, with the banking crisis and quantative easing, “When Money Dies” has returned to fashion among financiers and governments all over the world. The book is a classic social historical study of what can happen when public spending gets out of control. The book has now become a cult with second-hand copies trading for up to $1,600 in the US earlier in 2010. It was also reported in the Sunday Times that Warren Buffett was tipping the book. This news went viral with the international press calling Adam ‘Warren Buffett’s lost economic guru’. Warren Buffet disowns this rumour but the re-issued book is selling in vast quantities, including two versions in Chinese.
Adam Fergusson graduated in history at Cambridge, and later became a journalist with the Glasgow Herald, the Statist, and The Times. He was a Member of the European Parliament for West Strathclyde from 1979 to 1984, a Special Adviser to Geoffrey Howe at the Foreign Office on Europe from 1984 to 1989, and a consultant on European affairs for international industry and commerce including Time Warner, Mitsubishi, Alfred Dunhill, and Richemont.
Adam Fergusson has written five books including three novels; many articles and pamphlets; three musical comedies; and much light verse.
Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.
You can book Adam Fergusson through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Adam's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Adam Fergusson's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Adam tailored to your event.
Adam Fergusson speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Adam to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Adam Fergusson for events worldwide, subject to Adam's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Adam Fergusson is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Adam can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Adam Fergusson on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Adam can offer.
Adam Fergusson delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Adam Fergusson's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Adam's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Adam Fergusson can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Adam's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Adam Fergusson is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Adam Fergusson, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Adam's current availability for your dates.